Pass the chips; Hold the sugar

I love chips. I mean… I really, really love chips. Not potato chips for some reason. With me, it’s all about the tortilla chips or some variation thereof.

But, I’ve noticed a trend in some of the more “gourmet” and natural/organic chips. It’s an ingredient that seems somewhat curious to me.

No, not flax. I get the benefit of that.

I’m talking about sugar.

Now, granted, it’s not processed sugar, which, I suppose, is at least a plus. It’s evaporated cane juice. I’ll give you that it’s not as ‘bad’ as sugar-sugar, and it’s not a chemical like those other artificial sweeteners. And, it can at least claim to have slightly more nutrients given that it doesn’t go through the same degree of processing as regular sugar does. But it still comes from sugar cane.

The pros and cons, like anything else, depend on who you ask. Some say if you’re going to reach for something sweet, evaporated cane juice is the way to go. Calorically speaking, it’s the same as processed sugar.

But, if you’re like me and don’t worry as much about the calories as you do the impact on your body, your blood sugar and your insulin production, you have to look at the glycemic index. Evaporated cane juice has a GI of 55, which is considered on the low side. That’s a plus. That means it probably won’t make your blood sugar go all haywire and set you off on a roller coaster of sugar highs and lows, which is great for people who watch their sugar intake.

I still contend, though. Is it really necessary?

My body is so sensitive to this stuff that I know if I eat something with any type of sugar, be it honey, agave or evaporated cane juice, there’s a risk of a strange reaction. And, do we really need it in chips?

Personally, I say no!

I mean really… let’s break it down. Even without the sweetener – they’re salty, they’re crunchy, most work well with a variety of dips including hummus or guacamole or all by themselves. You can grab a handful and take them on the run…

I ask you… why mess with that???

I’ve put together a list of some of my faves that DO NOT HAVE EVAPORATED CANE JUICE.
(some are traditional and some are chip-like)

In no specific order (because I love them all), here’s are a few awesome sugar-free chips: